More than 20 of the UK’s largest homebuilding companies have signed a voluntary commitment to install bird-nesting bricks and create hedgehog highways on all new developments.

The Homes for Nature commitment, which has been signed by Barratt Developments, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Redrow, and Bellway, aims to support swift populations and many more species across the country by incorporating more nature-friendly features in new homes.

In addition to promising to make nest bricks and boxes and hedgehog highways mandatory in all new low-rise homes, the housing developers have said they will consider introducing additional nature-friendly features in homes, such as bat roosts, insect bricks, and shelters for hibernating animals.